The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge face anti-monarchist demonstrations when
they embark on their first official tour abroad, to Canada, in a few days.

Canada's most ardent royalists and republicans will turn out to show their feelings about the newlyweds' first official overseas tour.

But the majority of the Canadians who line the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple will simply be drawn by their combination of celebrity glitz and timeless tradition.

With the couple's wedding still fresh in people's minds, royal fever is growing for a trip that has been timed to coincide with Canada's national day and planned to offer plenty of colourful photo opportunities.

A record 1,300 journalists have already received accreditation to cover the tour, including 241 foreign reporters, who are flying in from as far afield as China, India and Qatar.

However, the Royals will not be able to escape controversy, with Quebec separatists planning demonstrations against their visit and animal rights campaigners already complaining about their attendance at the Calgary Stampede rodeo.

The tour will begin with a bang when Prince William and Kate Middleton join in the annual Canada Day celebrations in the capital Ottawa on July 1.

Organisers have predicted that crowd numbers for the patriotic occasion, when the city becomes a red and white sea of revellers, could break the record of 460,000 set in 2008.

Tourism officials say they even expect American royal fans to travel to Ottawa for the chance to see the visiting Duke and Duchess.

It is the next leg of the trip, visiting Montreal and Quebec City in the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec, that is most likely to provoke protests.

Quebec is known for its pro-independence and republican views, with many people wanting an end to the Queen as Canada's head of state.

There are also grumblings at the royal visit's cost to the Canadian government, estimated at about 1.5 million Canadian dollars.

Outspoken Quebec politician Amir Khadir has highlighted concerns about the expense, telling a local newspaper: ''What a waste of public funds.''

The Prince of Wales' Canadian tour in 2009 was marred by scenes of violence when more than 100 anti-monarchy activists clashed with riot police in Montreal.

Canadian heritage minister James Moore acknowledged that not everyone in Quebec supports the royal family, telling reporters: ''All I'm asking is that people in Canada who have opinions about it be respectful.''

By contrast, the duke and duchess are likely to receive a universally warm welcome when they move on to Prince Edward Island, the smallest of Canada's 10 provinces and a bastion of tradition.

Here they will compete in a dragon boat race, the Duke will demonstrate a specialist helicopter landing on water, and they will get to sample local specialities including lobster and chocolate-covered crisps.

The couple's next stop, in the remote mining city of Yellowknife in Canada's northern wilderness, will be lower profile but their reception is expected to be just as friendly.

And the final leg of their Canadian tour is set to see them given a warm send-off by cheering crowds at Calgary's hugely popular annual Stampede festival of cowboys and cattle.

The Duke and Duchess's short stay in California before they fly home is likely to provoke plenty of interest but perhaps less extreme passions.

The royal wedding entranced millions in the US, but Americans do not have the same direct link to the royal family as Canadians.

Writing about the visit on the Los Angeles Times website, one local joked: ''Just what we need, more headache and traffic. They didn't even invite me to their wedding.''